Sunday, 13 July 2008

Is This The Best They Can Do...?

So, the best the great thinkers in Labour can come up with is a plan to show teenage knife carriers where best to aim next time?

Young people who carry knives will be made to visit hospitals where stabbing victims are treated, in a bid to shock them into changing their behaviour.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said seeing "gruesome" injuries would be a tougher deterrent than sending all knife carriers in England and Wales to jail.

So, two things struck me. They aren't expecting a lack of victims anytime soon, because they think they'll always be plenty 'on tap' to be gawped at, and what are they going to do if victims say 'No thanks, I'd rather not...'?

Indeed. And I can't think the Accident & Emergency staff would be too happy about the prospect of people getting underfoot. But then, no doubt Jacqui Smith didn't consider the need to ask them either...